Saint Ferréol of Uzès

Saint Firmin of Uzè Saint Firmin d'Uzès Paternal uncle and predecessor of Ferréol to the bishopric of Uzès. s, who died in the year 553, had his nephew, Saint Ferréol, as his successor. Ferréol was t he son Ansbert Bishop of Autun who ordered Merry's return to the monastery. of Ansb ert and Blitide Mother of Saint Ferréol. Blitide, famous for the part they took in the discussions among scholars regarding the genealogies of our kings. He was raised in Uzès by his paternal uncle, whom he succeeded. From the beginning of his episcopate, he applied himself to winning over the Jews through gentleness, and he even admitted them to his table. As several councils of Gaul had forbidden eating with Jews, the conduct of the holy bishop was interpreted in an unfavorable light, and, upon the complaints received Childebert King of the Franks who supported the saint. by Childebert, he sent him an order t o com Paris Place of birth, ministry, and death of the saint. e to Paris. He was kept there for three whole years in a kind of exile, after which his virtue and the purity of his intentions having been recognized, he was finally permitted to return to his church. Ferréol then changed his conduct and drove from the city all the Jews who did not wish to convert.

He founded a monastery in honor of Sai nt Ferréol (martyr), w saint Ferréol (martyr) Martyr in whose honor the saint founded a monastery. hose name he bore, and composed a rule for this community in which several things worthy of note are found. It is divided into thirty-nine chapters and addressed to Lucretius, B ishop o Lucrèce Bishop of Die to whom Ferreolus addressed his monastic rule. f Die, to wh ose Die Episcopal city of which Ismidon was bishop for twenty years. judgment the author submits it.

One of the articles of this rule seems to us worthy of being cited. "A collection of the acts of the martyrs and saints shall be compiled," it says, "which shall be recited in the oratory on the day of their death." This was a type of martyrology where the saints of the day were read: it is the first time we find this usage. Saint Ferréol also published a collection of his letters, in imitation saint Sidoine Bishop of Clermont-Ferrand who praised Count Ecdicius. of Saint Sidonius; and after having governed his church for twenty-eight years, he d ied in the si Childebert II King of Austrasia, spiritual son and protector of the church of Verdun. xth year of Childebert II, that is to say, in the year 581. His cult is very ancie Bas-Languedoc Region where the saint's cult is celebrated. nt in Uzès and in Lower Languedoc, where his feast is celebrated on January 4. Sain Tarsicie Sister of Saint Ferreolus, honored as a virgin saint. t Ferréol had a sister named Tarsicia, who deserved, through her love for virginity and her other virtues, to be numbered among the ho ly vir Rhodex Diocese where the saint's feast day is celebrated on April 28. gins. She is honored in Rodez on January 15.

Taken from Hallet, September 16. — See a note on February 15.

One of the articles of this rule seems to us worthy of being cited. "A collection of the acts of the martyrs and saints shall be drawn up," it says, "which shall be recited in the oratory on the day of their death." It was a kind of martyrology where the saints of the day were read: this is the first time we find this usage. Saint Ferréol also published a collection of his letters, in imitation of Saint Sidonius; and after having governed his church for twenty-eight years, he died in the sixth year of Childebert II, that is to say, the year 581. His cult is very ancient in Uzès and in Lower Languedoc where his feast is celebrated on January 4. Saint Ferréol had a sister named Tarsicia, who deserved, by her love for virginity and by her other virtues, to be numbered among the holy virgins. She is honored in Rodez on January 15.

Taken from Hallet, September 16. — See a note on February 15.